Barbara A. Burr | Personal Profile
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BARBARA A. BURR | PERSONAL PROFILE Burr Law Firm 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400 WDC 20009 202.347.9002 (w) | 202.347.9004 (f) [email protected] FAMILY, MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE LAW PRACTICE BURR LAW FIRM, Washington, (2005-present) Founder, Collaborative Counsel & Attorney Founding member of small firm specializing in family matters. Represent men, women and children in all aspects of domestic relations law, from divorce and custody to property distribution and financial support. Provide counsel, consultation, advocacy and advice in a variety of settings including collaborative practice, mediation, traditional round-table negotiation and litigation. Primary focus is conflict resolution--emphasizing approaches that balance expertise and experience with sensitivity and compassion—to help clients move forward with their lives in the most positive way possible. Licensed in DC and MD. Collaborative Counsel Developed active Collaborative Practice to help parties with family matters resolve their disputes in a more open, supportive, respectful process with a focus on finding solutions that work for the entire family so that clients can minimize the painful aspects of divorce and family disputes and move forward with their lives as smoothly as possible. Mediator Provides mediation services to clients to resolve family matters including custody, parenting plan development, modification of custody arrangements, divorce issues, property distribution, alimony and child support. Often serves as co-mediator with financial and/or mental health professional providing services tailored to meet the individual needs of the family. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE CENTER OF WASHINGTON, DC (2010-present) Founded the Collaborative Practice Center of Greater Washington which provides shared meeting and gathering space to a collection of collaborative professionals with individual practices who share a vision of changing and improving the way people resolve disputes. COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF DC & COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF MD (2011-present) Developed and run two non-profit organizations that link families of modest means with professionals who provide reduced-fee and free services to resolve family disputes without going to court using the Collaborative Process. THIRD THURSDAYS FREE DIVORCE WORKSHOP (2017-present) Spearheaded taskforce to create a monthly free divorce workshop for the community, called Third Thursdays. Developed curriculum and organized public education effort. LEWIS LAW FIRM, Washington, D.C. (2001-2005) Attorney Represented clients in all aspects of domestic relations law, including divorce, property distribution, support, custody and domestic violence matters. 1 TEACHING & SPEAKING COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE TRAINING INSTITUTE (CPTI) (2008-present) Lead trainer and founding member of a faculty committed to teaching best methods of conflict resolution and Collaborative Practice to professionals across the country. Develop curriculum and conduct trainings in the art and skill of Collaborative Practice, conflict resolution, mediation and interest-based negotiation, ranging from 2 hour to week-long trainings. Topics include Basic Collaborative Practice (Two and Three-Day trainings), Mediation and Interest-Based Negotiation Skills (Thirty-Hour trainings), and a variety of Advanced Collaborative Skill trainings. Family Law Instructor (2001-present) Instruct and present trainings on a variety of issues in the family law field for DC Family Court, at DC Bar and Family Law Section events, national and local conferences, and local radio shows and podcasts. Civil Rights Law and Litigation Skills Instructor (1990-2001) Lectured nationally on civil rights issues and litigation techniques at numerous agencies and conferences, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, Human and Social Services, and the ABA. WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, Washington D.C., (2000-2001) Adjunct Professor. Taught housing discrimination law to second and third year law students. PREVIOUS LAW PRACTICE NATIONAL WOMEN’S LAW CENTER, Washington, D.C. (1999-2001) Senior Counsel. Litigated as lead counsel, co-counsel and amicus curiae in the United States Supreme Court, federal appellate and trial courts in individual and class action cases challenging sex discrimination in employment and education. Policy advocacy and coalition work to ensure strong enforcement of sex discrimination laws. Public education and outreach included technical assistance, publications and extensive speaking engagements, including appearances on National Public Radio and Lifetime TV. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Washington, D.C. (1990-1999) Senior Trial Attorney Litigated approximately 75 civil rights cases in federal district courts throughout the nation on behalf of hundreds of persons whose rights were violated. Specialized in the federal Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title VI and Public Accommodations Act. Lead counsel in numerous bench and jury trials in individual, “pattern and practice” and class actions. Supervised trial teams of junior attorneys, paralegals and fair housing testing staff. Wrote briefs as amici curiae on novel and challenging civil rights issues. Conducted attorney trainings, coordinated the Division’s participation in inter-departmental task force, served on administrative committees including the Section’s hiring committee. Received Special Commendations for Outstanding Service in 1992 and 1996 and Special Achievement Awards in 1991, 1994 and 1995. 2 US DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, Cleveland, OH (1998-1999) Mediator Served on the Northern District’s panel of Alternative Dispute Resolution neutrals. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS, Washington, D.C. (1989-1990) Judicial Law Clerk to Chief Judge Judith W. Rogers EDUCATION Harvard Law School, J.D., 1989 Honors: cum laude University of Washington, B.A., 1984, Major: Accounting Honors: magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma BAR MEMBERSHIPS Maryland Bar, admitted 1989 District of Columbia Bar, admitted 1990 Supreme Court of the United States, admitted 1994 AWARDS & ACCOLADES Named one of DC’s Best Lawyers by the WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE since 2015. Named as a Super Lawyer since 2009. Consistently named as one of the area’s Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers®. American Bar Foundation, Fellow since 2019. Named as a Top Woman Lawyer in the Northeast in Arrive Magazine, July/August 2011. Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® level of legal ability. WRITINGS & APPEARANCES Road to Independence, 101 Women’s Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firm. (Book, Contributing Author.) June 2011. American Bar Association Press. When Divorce is Collaborative Instead of Combative. February 2012. The Hill Rag. Appeared in the news media, including on Women of Vision with Lori Brooks, on WASH-FM, discussing Collaborative Divorce. 3 PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & CERTIFICATIONS Collaborative Project of DC, Founding Board member (2012 – present) Collaborative Project of Maryland, Founding Board member (2011 – 2014) District of Columbia Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Founding President (2008 - 2009), Treasurer (2009 – 2011), Board member (2011-2015), member (2008 – present) Collaborative Dispute Resolution Professionals, member (2007 - present) Collaborative Practice Training Institute (CPTI), founding member and trainer (2008-present) International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, member, (2007 - present), 11th Annual IACP Forum Host Committee Chair for the Sightseeing and Cultural Opportunities Committee (2010) Women’s Bar Association Foundation, Board member (2010 – 2012) Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Treasurer (2002-2004), Board Member (2004- 2006), Association Member (1997-1999; 2001 – present) Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, Montgomery Chapter Member (2001 – present) District of Columbia Bar Family Law Section Member (2001 – present) Montgomery County Bar Association Member (2001 – present) Montgomery County Family Law Section Member (2001 – present) American Bar Association Member (2001 – present) American Bar Association Family Law Section Member (2001 – present) Pro Se Divorce Clinic Trainer, D.C. Bar (2001 – 2007) Volunteer Family Law Facilitator, D.C. Bar (2002 – 2016) Certified Public Accountant, 1984-1986 TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS PRESENTED (Selected) Multidisciplinary Introductory Team Training in Collaborative Practice. Multiple occasions with various IACP faculty members. (Two-Day or Three-Day Team Training.) Interest Based Negotiation and Mediation Skills Training (30 Hour and 40 Hour versions). Multiple occasions in Washington, DC area and Lynchburg, Virginia. With Lisa R. Herrick, PhD, Lonnie Broussard, CFP, Deborah May, CPA, Frank Morrison, Esquire. (Multi-Day training for attorneys, mental health and financial professionals in mediation and negotiation skills.) The Non-Compliant Client: How to Work Effectively with Some of Our Most Challenging Clients, October 2017 in Philadelphia, PA at the IACP Forum. With Lisa R. Herrick, PhD. (3 Hour Workshop.) Delving Into the Heart of Conflict: Breaking Barriers in the Midst of Impasse. June 2017 in Dallas, TX. With Lisa R. Herrick, PhD and Lonnie Broussard, CFP, CDFA. (Advanced One-Day Training.) Deep Dive into the Collaborative Process. May 2016 in Charlotte, NC. With Lisa R. Herrick, PhD. (Advanced One-Day Training.) The Power of Introverts. April 2016 in Washington,